Most clubs in this period are excited about telling the world about their new teams.. so here's a perfect place for everyone to make press releases about completed trades

05-04-2004, 06:23 AM

Slats4ever

<<PRESS RELEASE>>
<<WESTERN PROVINCE CC>>

The past few days have seen many changes with regards to the personell at Western Province Cricket Club. With the arrival of superstar batsman Darden and tricky spinner Harkness the club has showed its' intentions of becoming a super power in the next few years.

Darden was the star for Mumbai in their premiership winning year in Season 2, scoring century after century he amassed an enormous tally. The last 2 years however have been lean for the great man, and it was alleged that the board at Mumbai and him have been at loggerheads for a while over treatment of players. As a result Western Province manager Slats4ever, perhaps the biggest fan of Darden was keen to lure him to the club. He will provide an awesome edge to the side who were seeking a star bat. He has begun training at the club and has expressed that he "enjoys the atmosphere" at the club saying it was positive and friendly.

Victor Harkness, the young up and coming spinner from the Windies, is the perfect player to slot in to fill the gap left by Nelson. He showed last year that he can live up to his reputation as one of the games most promising bowlers by capturing 30 wickets. His batting will also allow the order to possess lots of depth, something Slats is willing to instill.

Unfortunately with these two players joining the club, the club has had to let go of some of it's players, stars in fact. Ishmael Nelson, once tipped to be the greatest bowler ever, is leaving the club, after two seasons of solid, but not exceptional performances. It was hinted that Slats4ever was getting tired of him being outplayed by his bowling partners at Province, and he wasn't really needed anymore. He has gone to Mumbai and we wish him all the best.

Virenda Shewag also had a poor year with the bat, only averaging 30. After long talks with Slats4ever it was decided that he should leave the club in order to elsewhere be able to better pursue his promising career. WA was his place of choice, we wish him all the best there.

The WPCC would like to thank both Mumbai and WA for their professional attitude in trading, their managers are a real credit to their team, and WPCC would recommend them for negotiations to any other team. We look forward to a promising and fruitful trading relationship with both teams.

05-04-2004, 06:25 AM

Rich2001

LOL beat me to it chap, was going to post this but still writting the release.

05-04-2004, 06:32 AM

Graham

LANCASHIRE"S NEW LOOK SQUAD

With further trades looking highly unlikely at this stage, Lancashire's squad at the cut off could be:

SACA have announced all trading has been finalised for season 5 with new manager Simon Fitzsimmons bringing a number of new faces. With Darren Lehmann retiring, 38 year old keep Andy Flower moving on and a several one form specialists not being offered contracts, the smell of expectation is in the air again.

Fitzsimmons has brought in some players who have had excellent seasons, Ferguson from Kent taking 50 plus 4 day wickets, H Midlane from tasmania has scored buckets full of runs, david dawson from ACT averaging over 70 in 1 day add to them Guys like B Allen (Kent) and exciting rookies E Graham (Canterbury) theres no reason why this SA team cant be the best ever.

The decision to trade R Stratton will be in everyones mind until the end of the season. There were pros and cons for each argument, but in the end trying to replace lehmann needed sacrifice and i think SA have achieved that.

Hopefully we can pick up some good players in the draft. From pick 30 we arent pinning our hopes on anything spectacular, however a good 1 day bowler isnt out of the question. With the depth of the draft being tested, it may be tougher than ever picking last.

As usual with South Australia, expectations will be high. Its fair to say id be disapointed if we dont win the 4 day title, 1 day may be a different story though. Lehmann was a vital part of the 1 day team and its a big gap to fill, the draft will play a major part in deciding how we go, perhaps a bowler or 2 short at this stage, but if we a got a good one theres no reason why we cant finish in the top 2.

05-04-2004, 09:59 AM

Jamee999

Western Australia Press Release

Western Australia's new look squad currently retains only 2 players from last years campaign those being Craig Donald the middle order batsmen and Chris Schofield the spinner.

So here is the Current squad and which club they were at last year,any good offers will be considered.

TN have had what many would consider a bad season. Currently last in Division 2 four-day with a possibility of making themselves safe with a won over Tasmania and finishing second in division 3 One-Day.

What quickly became a title race between two close teams evolved into a bubbly confrentation involving two driven teams, with no exception between the two managers. As a slagging fest developed between the two managers, both knew that either team had the ability to win the title. Both teams managed to beat each other once (Both away from home oddly enough) during the season. Both were afforded the luxury of one slip-up throughout the season. The points were even heading into the last one-day round of the season. However Warickshire's NRR far exceeded TN's which meant Warickshire had to lose or tie and TN win for TN to gain the title. However after building all season to such a flavour filled and adrenalin packed final round, we had one too many slip-up. This time against the under-rated Canterbury outfit who were out to prove a point(Don't Meddle With Us Next Season in Division 3 One-Day! as one of the banners at the ground read). As Matty Chapman hit an unbeaten 121* to take TN to 275. The Canterbury tail fought like men possesed with the exciting O Clarke and Chris Elstub forming together to end TN's season, as Canterbury went out with a VERY BIG BANG! Elsewhere Warickshire wrapped up the title against a strong looking Leicestershire team.

Cloete had the following words to say to nibblet(Kurt Christensen) after the game "You deserved that one mate. You did it really well and i'm just so glad that we had such a fun time deciding the title." Nibblet replied "Thanks mate. You've made it fun and it makes it so much sweeter winning the title". As two foes end the season on a high note, I can't but look to next season to thrash his team into the ground when we get promoted back to div 2 OD. Matt Chapman was named one-day batsman of the season, Yuvraj Singh one-day all-rounder of the season and Nick Kumble one-day bowler of the season were later named the award winners.

Four-Day started badly and didn't gone to plan as TN quickly slipped behind the 8-ball. We have been very unfortunate to have a draw in a match we were clearly dominating and a loss to surrey by 3 runs that haven't halped matters. However a win in this round of four-day will put our season out of doubt and could set us clear of the relegation zone. With the top 3 teams all very close on points, and the bottom 3 likewise. If we lose however, we are almost certain to go down. So I have called the troops to show their pride, show their courage and do it for Simon Mann and TN's place in history. Zac Birch four-day batsman of the season, Ryan Webster 4d all-rounder of the season and Nick Kumble four-day bowler of the season were the award winners.

Season 4 Tamil Nadu Award Winners:

One-Day batsman of the season: Matt "The One Day bat" Chapman

One-Day all-roudner of the season: Yuvraj "Yuvvy" Singh

One-Day bowler of the season: Nick "Kumbie" Kumble

Four-Day batsman of the season: Zac "Birchy" Birch

Four-Day all-rounder of the season: Ryan "Rhino or Webby" Webster

Four-Day bowler of the season: Nick "Kumbie" Kumble

So as the last chapther of season four ends for Tamil Nadu. They look forward to a better and stronger season next year.

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After starting trading slowly TN quickly got into the swing of things when they released their best batsman Zac Birch to Lancs in place of Avishka Salvi. Another trade then brought GARETH Eaton to the club to replace Birch's void. A few other big trades and TN were starting to build up a nice looking team. With Mike Hussey and Yannik Porter coming to the club.

Eventually TN concluded their trading with Matt "The bat" Hayden and Yauvani Tully coming to the club.

TN manager Andrew Cloete says he is extremely excited about the players in the 11 who will be staying at TN. However he stressed that at this point in time he sees TN at the "Creamy Middle" of WCC. He does believe this season team has the potential to go big places but until such time that it happens he will not over-evaluate TN. He also added that TN will be looking for a good bowler, a good four-day keeper and a solid batsman in the draft.

As next season proves what might be an historical one where they push the boundaries of the impossible. Players such as Matt "The Bat" Hayden, Nick Kumble, Matt "Chappo" Chapman, Yauvani Tully, Ben Pandit, Viv "Richards" Chandrasekhar, Gareth Eaton, Yannik Porter and Mike Hussey will be on show at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Kolkata(i think). Cloete said his playing down of his team's chances to the media doesn't mean that he isn't personally feeling very confident. Cricket pundits from all over the world have said that TN is fast becoming a powerful force in the WCC. And with Cloete at the helm, it only a matter of time before they will be in div 1.

So as the "Creamy Middle" period seemingly draws to an end at TN, Cloete says they are thoroughly looking forward to enjoying the "Dizzying Highs" of top flight cricket. With a few solid performances here and there, they may just have what it takes to make it into Div 1 and break into the impossible! But before that can happen, they need a win agaisnt Tasmania to round off what could be described as a solid season.

Cricket pundits from all over the world have said that TN is fast becoming a powerful force in the WCC. And with Cloete at the helm, it only a matter of time before they will be in div 1.

TOPPPPP RESPONSE!!!!!!

In a shocking revelation this morning it has been revealed that Cloete's cricket pundits are none other than his toy magic 8 ball. Secret Camera footage shows Cloete sitting on his bed with his "Magic 8 ball" asking it such questions, "Will Kumble be the leading wicket taker this year?" "Will Eaton grow up into the man I want him to?" "Will we be in division 1 next year"... All to which the "8 ball" responded with "yes the future's in the stars".

Therefore as a real person I will give my "cricketing pundits" view on TN...

"A totally different side, but why not? that's what WCC's all about, having fun. It's a risky tactic he's taken by getting Chandresekha and Eaton to lead his batting, but if it comes off I have no doubt he'll be in division 1 soon. I still feel his side's missing the key ingredient of a top of the range all rounder though, but only time will tell. The Western Province cricket board wish Tamil Nadu all the best in this season, as they deserve it, they are a warm friend to the South African side, and we can only wish the best upon them"

05-04-2004, 07:10 PM

Cloete

Quote:

Originally posted by Slats4ever TOPPPPP RESPONSE!!!!!!

In a shocking revelation this morning it has been revealed that Cloete's cricket pundits are none other than his toy magic 8 ball. Secret Camera footage shows Cloete sitting on his bed with his "Magic 8 ball" asking it such questions, "Will Kumble be the leading wicket taker this year?" "Will Eaton grow up into the man I want him to?" "Will we be in division 1 next year"... All to which the "8 ball" responded with "yes the future's in the stars".

Therefore as a real person I will give my "cricketing pundits" view on TN...

"A totally different side, but why not? that's what WCC's all about, having fun. It's a risky tactic he's taken by getting Chandresekha and Eaton to lead his batting, but if it comes off I have no doubt he'll be in division 1 soon. I still feel his side's missing the key ingredient of a top of the range all rounder though, but only time will tell. The Western Province cricket board wish Tamil Nadu all the best in this season, as they deserve it, they are a warm friend to the South African side, and we can only wish the best upon them"

thanks mate.... hehe taht pundits line just sounded good.

05-04-2004, 07:48 PM

Rich2001

Kent County Cricket Club : Media Release

Kent County Cricket Club : Media Release

The people of Kent CCC would like to thank everyone for their huge continued support and today is the next step towards world domination, sorry WCC Success.

Last season left all involved in the club with mixed feeling, on the downside we were compressively relegated from Division 1 of the One Day game, however on the up side the Four Day side did us proud and piped Surrey to the title in the last match of the season. (Here's hopping ;) :D)

Over the past two seasons our manager Rich2001 has be keen to develop the Four Day outfit to the strongest possible and having now got us into the top flight we as a club have decided it was about time we invested some of that Four Day talent into the One Day arena.

Rich2001 has been a busy manager trying to bring into the club the players needed to lead the charge in season 5. As a result I we have had to sacrifice some of our best players, but we have tried our best to replace them and if not improve the overall look of the side.

Today is a huge day for the club as we announce to all of our fans that will be retained and representing us next season.

A Muzumdar: One Day Bat Avg 48 :: Four Day Bat Avg XX

A Muzumdar is a solid all round batsman, who does a super job of holding the team together throughout the innings; he is quite content to keep the scoring ticking over in the One-day game and allow the batsman around him to blast away. A Muzumdar is a vital player to the Kent line up giving us super balance to both line-ups.

G.Blewett: One Day Bat Avg 33.64 :: Four Day Bat Avg XX

Blewy has lead the side with wonderful efficiency and enthusiasm even in his old age, the younger players have looked up to our captain as a role model and he has lead by example having a wonderful season not only with the bat but also having taken a combined 35 wickets in both forms (19 @ 21 OD s/r 22 & 15 @ 18 FD s/r 34)

Blewy was always going to be retained by us, although we did have doubts mid season when he came saying he was contemplating retirement, however thankfully he decided against that and we hope to give Blewy the farewell he deserves next season and hopefully in return he will lead us to the titles.

L Dyer: One Day Bat Avg 6 / s/r 33 :: Four Day Bat Avg 1 / s/r 39

L Dyer, the new kid on the block… a highly talented rookie that has progressed through our own purpose built academy programme he has genuine pace and will frighten the batsman into giving their wickets away. He is a going to go far in WCC and will make a name for himself next season in both forms I am sure of that. Dyer takes over the mantle that M.Saggers has left behind and we have every faith that he can fill those shoes for us.

L French: One Day Bat Avg 44.4 :: Four Day Bat Avg XX

L French is a talented batsman in both forms of the game and will bolster our middle order. French has decided to leave the current champions SA after falling our with the current manager and when he saw Allen heading that way he saw the opportunity not only to make a name for himself but also a chance to start afresh with one of the best managers on the circuit, Rich2001 who is well renown for the ability to not only get the best out of his players but to be highly approachable.

French is another of the new bred of attacking players to take the game by storm, he has a S/R of 85 and up to the last match of the season he was averaging 77 before a low score in the final couple of games saw it drop to a still impressive 55

M.Jenkins: One Day Bat Avg 50.24 :: Four Day Bat Avg XX

M.Jenkins, has had a quiet season at the top of the order for us, but his huge talent is there for all to see. Next season he will have the added responsibility with Allen missing from the line up however Jenkins was rumoured by many to be leaving the club but we are keen to give him another shot and again he is another of those duel batsman who are fantastic in both forms.

Jenks is also a star in the One-Day game with his S/R of a Gillchrist like 98.76, he sets up the innings for us more often than not with a electric start.

O Hemp: One Day Bat Avg 52.08 :: Four Day Bat Avg XX

O Hemp is another new signing this time from the Warwickshire camp; he has had a slightly disappointing season by his standards and is another one who has the enthusiasm to want to impress and do well in the coming years to cement his place in the England fold.

O Hemp will be spearheading the One-Day attack for us in the absence of Allen. Hemp is a exciting youngster who will have extra energy and abilities in the field especially in the One-Day game. Hemp also another quick scoring stroke maker and hopefully with all that power in the middle order the limited over scores will rocket up overall. Don’t be deceived into thinking Hemp is a One-Day specialist he has a average well in excess of 40 in the longer game and quite frankly any team seeing him walking to the middle @ number 7 will be either worried or hoping for a declaration.

Mr Aylott has been a disappointment this season and has struggled to get going, but we have seen some sparkerling spells of bowling to know we have a talent just to good to throw away here, he might have had a substandard season in our eyes but he is still one of the better players in the game and he is still very young an raw and has plenty of time to enhance those skills, speaking to Aylott he has ensured the fans he will be back next season and with his new “legal” mystery ball he hopes to leave the batsman in a spin (I am sorry he made us say that!).

Aylott also will have a more relaxed season next year as he will become the Kent 5th bowler, yes I know it’s quite incredible a guy with those stats is only a 5th bowler but it’s true, we hope that being within such a talented group of pros that it will enable him to just relax and start bowling to his potential again and show the world just the bowler he can be when we signed him.

Olney has the potential to be one of the world’s greatest All Rounder’s and he will hone his skills with the best, as he will learn from R.Stratton. Onley if he could boost his OD batting up by about 10 he really would be World Class, but that will come with time and he has plenty to learn first. Onley slots into the batting line up at 8 in Four-Day meaning Kent will have very very little in the terms of a tail that can only be good.

Onley is another express pace-man and will fit in nicely with the hard bouncy wickets at Canterbury, probley coming on as 1st change. He will certainly be one to watch next season if he goes anything like he has at the academy.

R.Stratton is a huge signing probley one of the only players in WCC that could possibly replace Allen in our team and he has done just that. Many have stood up and taken notice at the huge move but we felt it was time to release the sentimental value that Allen blinded us with and his performances just haven’t been upto par for the last couple of seasons now. Stratton along with French who came in and the various other batsman will certainly cover the massive hole left by Allen, Stratton nearly does the job alone and on top of that he has one of the best S/R’s in the Four-Day game and 37 although it has slipped of late is certainly a fine S/R for the One-Day game for a 2nd change.

R.Stratton has promised us huge things next season and he means business, he has already been on the phone from SA setting up training sessions and fitness work in our gym, and by all accounts he can’t wait to meet the lads and all of the wonderful Kent fans.

S Manjrekar: One Day Bat Avg 25 :: Four Day Bat Avg XX

S Manjrekar is one of the leading Wicket-Keepers left in the game with a Four-Day average in the low 40’s he has been a perfectly able replacement to A Flower who lead us behind the stumps for two seasons.

S Manjrekar has been a super guy in the field, motivates the lads well and never gives up until it’s well and truly gone. He probley through no fault of his own not had the best opportunities this season, coming in at 7 in the order he has often been left with the tail and as a result we are expecting a slight fall in his avg, but regardless he still remains one of the best Four-Day keepers on the market and we are overjoyed he has decided to stick around. S Manjrekar is only 23 years old and has plenty of time and opportunity to fulfil his dream of becoming a world-class keeper.

Last and by no means least the rookie sensation you have all been waiting for…..

T.Hawkins had huge expectations and has really been a let down this season, I say let down that but he has still taken 24 wickets @ 21 in the longer game, although coming off a season where he bagged 60+ he was certainly meant to contribute a bit more than he has.

T.Hawkins though had such marvellous stats anyway that even with this season behind him he will still have a S/R around the 40 mark come season 5 and will now become the primary spinner in a seam attack with Ayllot offering help when needed.

Next season will be a huge one hopefully for the boys from Kent and will be looking to make a major impact on the Four-Day game and regain promotion in the shorter version after a disappointing season 4.

*Note due to the timing of the release not all Four-Day stats are known, so current season figures have been shown instead.

06-04-2004, 12:06 AM

Simon

You could have done a longer report rich! :P

06-04-2004, 12:58 AM

nibbs

Warwickshire will have their big press conference thing after Easter, when we expect to have completed trading and all that shizzle...